A Message from Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s President Roxanne Spillett

Helping the Nation Heal 9/12/01
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the many families touched by the horrific events yesterday at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington and in Pennsylvania. Never before has the United States felt an attack of this intensity aimed at civilians. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of office workers, military personnel, rescue workers, police officers and firefighters lost their lives due to this senseless attack.

In the aftermath, concerned adults everywhere may be called upon to assist young people and their families with difficult questions and perhaps even personal tragic situations. Families in New York and Washington may have suffered personal losses. U.S. military bases all over the world have been placed on high alert status, which may put undue stress on our families overseas. In the face of these tragic events, our Clubs are already demonstrating their compassion and humanity.

Standing in the wake of these brutal attacks, our Club professionals are rising to the challenge and assisting those in need. Although the country has experienced a dark moment in our security and safety, many of our own are sharing their finest moments with a child in need.

Our children today need Boys & Girls Club staff or other concerned adults more than ever. So do the children of tomorrow. We speak of the generation-changing impact of our Clubs and programs. Through our work, we help to shape a better and more peaceful world. America needs us to be strong for our children.

Talking Points for Concerned Adults

• As much as we try to protect our children from frightening news reports, few young people in America escaped the horror of seeing or hearing about Tuesday’s terrorist attacks around the country. How you respond to your Club member’s fears, feelings, and questions is the key to helping them feel safe again.
  
• Turn off the TV. The continual commentary, frightening speculation, and repeated replaying of the disasters will only fuel their fears and insecurities, not to mention your own.
  
• Reassure, reassure, reassure. Assure young people that you, Club staff, their parents, teachers and other adults care about them and will do everything possible to keep them safe. Let our children know that many people are thinking about safety and working hard to prevent more violence.
  
• Be available. Let them ask questions. Listen, be supportive of their concerns and continually reassure them about their safety.
• Get back to routines as soon as possible. Children and young people of all ages thrive on routine.
• Be sensitive in how you treat people of foreign descent. All people are suffering from these attacks. Let’s not teach hate to our youngsters on any level.

For those needing additional resources for talking to youth, read these tips from Make The Peace (requires PDF Acrobat Reader).